Cow-milking machine



(No Model.)

- M. J. OUSHM'AN.

GOW MILKING MACHINE.

yo. 579,559. I Patented Mar. 23,1897.

V i Q {g o I .1 a a Q? Q Q) m O IQ hi I D il llVVE/VTOR AWORIVEYS.

nonnsrus J. OUSHMAN, or wATERLoo, IOWA.

COW-MILKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,339, dated March 23, 1897. Application filed December 24, 1895. Serial No. 573,219. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MODESTUs J. CUSHMAN, of Waterloo, in the county of Black Hawk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cow-Milking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In the class of pulsating milking-machines, that is to say, machines in which the air-vacuum in the teat-cups is made to alternately increase and decrease, say, for exam-- ple, from a maximum of twelve degrees to a minimum of four degrees of air-pressure, it is essential such vacuum shall not fall below the minimum; otherwise the cups will fall off from the teats. It is further desirable, if not practically necessary, the alternating pulsations shall be regular and decided.

I have devised an improved milking-inachine, or, rather, an improved air-exhausting and valve attachment for one, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a combined side and sectional elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of one of the valves.

A, Fig. 1, indicates a flexible and collapsible air-chamber, and B one of like construction, which are suspended in a suitable stationary frame and provided with air-inlets, also with the respective weights A B of correspondingly-diiferent size. These air-chambers and their attachments will be found more fully described in the patent of Messrs. Harvey and Hoover, No. 541,458.

It will be understood that the weight A is of sufficient size to maintain by its gravity or downward traction a vacuum of twelve degrees air-pressure in the larger chamber A, while the weight B will correspondingly maintain a vacuum of four degrees in the smaller chamber B. An air-inlet pipe B is connected with the rigid head of chamber B and provided at its lower pendent end with a valve B The latter is operated by a lever B loosely connected with the weight B, for a purpose hereinafter stated. An air eX- haust pipe 0 is also attached to air-chamber B and extends down to a junction with the main milk-conducting pipe E, which is connected with the milk-receptacles E, and in practice extends along the cow-stable, where it is provided with a series of flexible branch tubes and attached terminal teat-cups. (Not shown.) In brief, the construction, arrangement, and connection of the millcreceptacles E, milk-pipe E, and teat attachments are the same as described in my application, Se rial No. 562,701, filed September 16, 1895.

The air-exhaust pipe 0 connects the head of the larger air-chamber A with pipe 0, and a rotatable two-way valve (3 is located at the junction of said pipes. When adjusted in one position, said valve closes the pipe 0 and opens communication between the horizontal and'vertical sections of pipe 0, and in the alternating position it connects, as shown, the pipe C with the vertical section of pipe 0 and closes the horizontal part that connects with air-chamber B. that two or more valves could be used instead of one of the special valves with same results.

A branch pipe 0 leads from one of the milk-receptacles E to the milk-pipe E. At the junction of the three pipes 0, C and E is located a four-way rotary valve 0 and it serves to alternately close and open them, as hereinafter described. These two valves are respectively provided with lateral lever-arms D and I), which are connected by a vertical rod D so that they are caused to operate in unison through the medium of a horizontal lever D fulcru med on the frame in which the air-chambers A and B are hung and having a pivot connection with the rod D as shown. The free end of such lever is adapted for detachable connection with the oscillating leverhead F of an air-exhaust pump F. The pumpcylinder F is connected by a branch pipe 0 with the air-pipe O, as shown.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The lever D is raised and thereby the rod D operates both valves 0 and C simultaneously, so that these results follow: first, the valve 0 closes that portion of pipe 0 that connects with the air-chamber B, while it opens the passage through pipe 0 to air-chamber A, and, second, the valve 0 opens passage from pipe 0 to G and shuts off the passage between pipe 0 and milk-pipe E, and opens passage in E from milk-receptacles to teatcups and tubes. The pump F is now worked and draws air out of chamber A and its connections, therebycausing it to contract or It is apparent.

collapse and lift the weight A, with the result collapsed as far as possible, the operator de-' presses the lever D so that the valves C and C are reversed, with the following results: first, the pipe 0 is closed and the portion of pipe 0 that connects with the smaller chamber B is put in connection with the vertical section of pipe 0, and, second, the valve C closes the pipe 0 and also the passage from milkpipe E to receptacles E, while opening passage from O to E. There being a vacuum of about twelve degrees in pipe 0, it is evident air will be instantly drawn from chamber B into pipes O and E. The said vacuum in 0 thus ordinarily suffices to collapse the chamber B and raise its weight B, so as to create a vacuum of about four degrees in O and E. If not, then the pump is operated to effect it. Thus the machine is put in condition for beginning the milking operation. The lever D being detached from the pump, it is first vibrated by hand at a speed of about thirty strokes a minute while the teat-cups are being applied to one or more cows. It is apparent that in consequence of the alternate opening and closing of the valves 0 and C and the opening and closing of passages to air-chambers A and B upon each upstroke of the lever D there will be a vacuum of about twelve degrees in the entire apparatus save the chamber B, and that at each downstroke of said lever D there will be a vacuum of about four degrees in all parts save chambers A and the milk-receptacles E. It is further apparent that after each upstroke of the lever l) the air in pipes O and E, which had previously been reduced to a Vacuum of about four degrees, will be drawn into the larger chamber A until there is avacuum of about twelve degrees, the said chamber being correspondingly expanded. As the operation continues it becomes nearly fully expanded and must be again exhausted and collapsed in order to permit the milking operation to continue. To effect this, which is done without interruption ofmilking, the operator reattaches the lever D to the pump head, and then works the pump at the rate of, say, thirty strokes a minute to draw air out of the air-chambers and connections, thus collapsing the chamber A. It is apparent the drawing of air from the smaller chamber B, caused by each downstroke of the lever Dicauses its partial collapse, so that it finally collapses completely. \Vhen this occurs, the weight B being automatically raised it will open the valve B in pipe B and thus admit air to chamber B, so that it again expands until the weight B again descends far enough to close the valve B which obviously arrests the expansion of chamber B. Thus the said lever and valve serve as an automatic air-inlet or safety attachment for the chamber B.

The general operation of the machine is such that pulsations relatively of about twelve to fourteen degrees are produced alter- 7 nately in rapid succession, and thus the teateups are held in place by a vacuum of about four degrees while the milk is drawn by a vacuum of about twelve degrees and the milking continues without interruption by reason of the collapse of either chamber A or B.

To summarize and in part recapitulate the operation, when lever D is raised valve C closes O and B and opens A, while valve C opens milk receptacles E and pipes E, but closes passage between pipe 0 and E, so that a vacuum of twelve degrees is in A, O, E, and E. lVhen lever D is down, A and E are closed and B, O, and E open with an airtension of four degrees. Thus A and E are shut off whenever B is open, and vice versa.

It is to be understood that I do not restrict my invention in its range of use or application, but propose to apply it to any milkyielding animal of any species with such modification in size or details of form of parts of the apparatus as the case may require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. In a milking-machine, of the character specified, the combination of the differentiated air-chambers, air and milk pipes, and. suitable valve mechanism, substantially as shown and described, whereby the said air chambers are alternately put in connection with and cut off from communication with the milk-pipe and connections.

2. In a milking-machine of the character specified the combination with diiterentiated vacuum-chambers, a milk-receptacle and air and milk pipes, of a valve mechanism applied to said pipes and means for operatingit substantially as shown and described, whereby the said chambers are alternately put in connection with and cut off from communication with the milk pipe and receptacle, as specified.

3. In a milking-machine of the character specified, the combination with the differentiated vacuum-chambers a milk pipe and receptacle, and air-exhaust pipes connecting them with said chambers, of valves located at the j unction of the several pipes, and means for connecting and operatingthe valves,which are constructed and arranged substantially as described, and thereby adapted to establish and cut off communication of the cham-- bers with the milk pipe and receptacle.

4. In a pulsating milking machine the combination with differentiated eXpansible vacuum-chambers, a milk pipe and receptacle and air-pipes communicating with said chambers, milk pipe and receptacle, of a retary valve, applied at the bifurcation of the air-pipe, which connects with the chambers, and a similar valve arranged at the junction of the air and milk pipe, a rod connecting the said valves, and a lever pivoted to the rod, substantially as shown and deseribed,whereby said Valves are simultaneously operated for alternately opening and closing communication between the vacuum-chambers, airpipe, and milk pipe and receptacle, as specified.

5. In a pulsating milking-machine, the combination with weighted differentiated vacuum-chambers which. are automatically expansible, a milk pipe and receptacle, and pump, of the air-exhaust pipes O, G, C and C which connect the chambers, pump and milk pipe and receptacle, as specified, rotary or oscillating valves arranged respectively at the junction of pipes O, O and (J, C and E as specified a rod connecting the valve-arms,

a lever pivoted to the rod and having a detachable connection with the movable pump 

